Pop-up guide link



Filed June 14, 1954 INVENTOR. L7. EF

POP-UP GUIDE LINK Robert J. Fife, Delphi, Ind., assignor to Stephen A. Young, Delphi, Ind.

Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,561

'1 Claim. (Cl. 287-54) This invention 'relates to'plumbing fittings and more particularly to an improvement in the fitting known as a pop-up drain.

Pop-up drains are well known in the plumbing art and all include certain similar functional parts, such as the P. O. plug, T, valve plug, ball rod and lift rod, together with means for connecting the ball and lift rod, the usual provisions being made for mounting the respective parts in connection with a lavatory or the like.

Inasmuch as the improvement hereof resides in the means for operatively connecting the ball and lift rods it should be noted that heretofore members comprising such a connection have been formed in many different ways involving the use of castings of one kind or another, or screw machine elements. However no such connection has previously been used which is a simple wrought or stamped form as herein set forth.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide the connection described and known as a guide link, of novel form made of a single stamped or wrought member.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a part which comprises an article of manufacture made of relatively light gauge sheet metal, pierced and formed to carry out the function required of a guide link.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide link stamped of corrosion resisting metal preferably, having a generally T-shaped body, with suitably located perforations therein, certain of the same being in extensions which may be bent so as to effect alignment of such perforations in which a guide rod is to be received, another perforation being for the purpose of receiving the ball rod, a threaded opening in the body being adapted to receive a set screw for engaging and positioning the link on the lift rod.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view partially in section illustrating the usual parts of a pop-up device as mounted on a lavatory or the like.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section showing the device of this invention and its manner of effecting connection of the ball and lift rods.

Figure 3 is a view taken about from the left-handside of Figure 1, somewhat enlarged, further illustrating the relationship of the ball and lift rods and the guide link hereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the guide link in its fully formed position.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the guide link in its initial form in blank.

Referring now to Figure 1, a pop-up valve or device is usually mounted on a lavatory such as illustrated herein, and designated 1, including the bowl 2 and the ledge 3 thereof. In the bowl 2, a pop-up unit or device generally designated 4 is shown as having the P. O. plug thereof received in a suitable opening in the bowl and hPat e nt 'ed May 6, 1958 extending therebelow being fastened to the same by means of the usual nut. 5 provided for such purpose.

7 The pop-up unit includes the P. O plug 6 which is threaded for receiving the nut 5 thereon, and in turn engages a T 7 from which an outlet '8 leads to a suitable connection for drainage of the lavatory. I

The T 7 includes a stufling box unit or section 9 extending therefrom to receive and support for operation therein a ball rod 10. I I g The ball rod 10 ,in'accordance with the usualconstruction of pop-ups, engages a plug valve member operative in the P. O. plug 6,'and not shown or morepartic'ula'rly describedherein, since the same is well known.

As will be understood from 'a consideration of the drawing, the ball rod 10 extends into a position at the rear of the T 7 so as to be engaged by a lift rod 11, and connected thereto by the guide link generally denoted 12. The lift rod 11 is usually intended to be raised and lowered, and is mounted in a suitable tubular guide member generally denoted 13, the upper end of the rod 11 being provided with a knob 14 in accordance with usual practice. The purpose of the guide link 12 as will be readily understood is to afford a connection between the ball rod 10 and lift rod 11 so that upon manipulation of the rod 11 in a generally upwardly and downwardly direction, the ball rod 10 will be operated and in turn operate plug valve within the pop-up in accordance with known practice.

Referring therefore to the other figures in the drawing, and particularly to Figures 4 and 5, the guide link of this invention is shown as being comprised of a generally T- shaped body denoted 15, whichincludes the main section thereon having the extensions 16 and 17. Formed at right angles thereto substantially speaking is the other branch of the T and denoted 18. The branch 18 is provided with a suitable opening 19 therein which is intended to receive the ball rod 10 as will be subsequently explained in detail. The extensions or cars 16 and 17 are as shown in Figure 4 bent upwardly at right angles to the body section 15, the said extensions 16 and 17 including corresponding holes or perforations 20 and 21 therein. These perforations .are thereby placed in alignment upon bending of the extensions 16 and 17 as shown in Figure 4 and also in Figure 2 so as to receive It will be apparent that suitable manipulation of the said screw when the lift rod 11 is inserted in the openings 20 and 21, will cause the end of the said screw to engage the lift rod and thereby position the guide link as a whole with relation thereto.

As shown in Figure 2, the portion 18 of the guide link formed as previously described, provides for the angular movementof the ball rod 10, as the same moves in the opening 19, upon operation of the lift rod 11 upwardly or downwardly as the case may be, the opening 19 being of suitable size to permit such rocking action on the part of the ball rod 10 in accordance with the usual requirements of such an arrangement.

In order to position the portion 18 of the guide link hereof, with respect to the ball rod 10, as shown in Figure 3 suitable cotter one of these at each side of the body section 18 to thus position the same with respect to the ball rod and afford proper operation thereof by the lift rod.

It should be understood in view of the foregoing that there is hereby provided a guide link formed of sheet metal, which may be of relatively thin gauge, and yet when bent into the form such as that shown in Figure 4 will have substantial rigidity, and in combination with the pins 24 are provided, there being set screw attord a proper connection-of the lift .rod 11 y and the ballrod" for manipulation. of the latter to e'fiect the draining operation which is controlled by the pop-up device hereof or of similar nature. It will be understood that a substantial economy is atlorded -by the formation of a guide 'link such as is herein se ti forth, inasmuch as a wrought metal .part is ordinarily substantiaTly cheaper than its counterpart made of acasting or screw machine part, the saving in metal aloneaffording certain of the economies hereof, but in addition the actual forming and handling o'fithesame effecting still further economy. In taddit'ion-fit shouldj be understood that by reason of the provision of a sheet metal part such as is I claim: 7

A link for connecting a lift rod to a ball rod, comprising a relatively thin one piece sheet metal body, including spaced generally parallel ears extending at right angles to said body, said ears having openings near the ends of each, and a tapped hole in the body intermediate said ears, the holes in the ears being in axial alignment to receive a lift rod, and the :axis of the tapped hole being at substantially right angles to the ear hole axis, said body having a generally co-planar extension, and an aperture in said extension for receiving a ball rod.

References :Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,530 Madden Sept. 7, 1915 1,309,240 Chappius July 8, 1919 1,547,255 Mueller July 28, 1925 2,506,564 Blanchard May 9, 1950 

